GB2

Werner racing his race car in Gardermoen Racet in 1949. Getting a fourth place, Werner ended up being the best Norwegian racer.

Eirik Bøle with GB2 at the 2015 Viking Run & Fun at Kala Raceway. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

GB2 is a Norwegian Nordic Special Racer built by Werner Tollefsbøl of Oslo, Norway. Werner worked at Maskinspesialisten in Vika, and he built the car at his work. Werner's brother Ryno Tollefsbøl, worked under Greger Strøm at Fram Motor Kompani, and he helped Werner throughout the build. The build was completed in 1949, and it was registered the same year as "Racerbil Eget Fabrikat", receiving chassis number 001. It was powered by a Mercury V-8 engine that was fit with four dual-carburetors, and it was supposedly good for 150 horsepowers. The transmission, front and rear axles were Ford V-8. Total weight was about 825 kg. Werner's racer made its debut at the track in 1949, featuring a white paint job. After attending three races with the car during the summer of 1949, Werner moved to the Unites States for a shorter periode. In 1954 he decided to move permanently, so he sold his race car to Gunnar Bratlie. Gunnar modified the car by creating a new grille. It was then painted blue and named GB2 after Gunnar. GB2 went on to become the most successful Norwegian race car between 1955 and 1958. Bratlie entered GB2 in 19 races. He won 11 first places, 6 second places and one third place with the car. The car was painted red in 1956. Being sponsored by Lodge sparkplugs and U.S. Royal winter-tires, the GB2 was one of the first sponsored race cars of Norway.

Norwegian car collector Eirik Bøle bought GB2 in 1992 after reading a book about race cars of Norway.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Norsk Motorveteran Nr. 5-2017